Machine for assorting tobacco-tags.



Patented Mar. I3, I900.

J. V. BUHANNAN.

MACHINE FOR ASSORTING TOBACCO TAGS.

2 $heets-Sheet l Patented Mar. 13, I900.

J. V. BOHANNANL MACHINE FOR ASSCRTING TOBACCO TAGS.

(Application filed Sept. 9, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

.TNE Nunms wmns co. PuoTauTna, WASHINGTON. g c.

' siren STATES Fries.

PATENT MACHINE FOR ASSORTING TOBACCO-TAGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,450, dated March13, 1900.

Application filed September 9,1899. Serial No. 729,979. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J ENETTAV. BOHANNAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Machines for Assortin g Tobacco-Tags; andI do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specifica tion.

This invention relates to assorting-machines, and particularly to amachine adapted to assort perfect from imperfect tags.

The invention has for its object to provide a machine embodying acylinder with a surrounding casing provided with openings through whichthe imperfect tags may be discharged, and is adapted for use inconnection with tags having a body portion and attaching-prongs at anangle thereto. The machines in use for attaching these tags to sucharticles as tobacco are often clogged and injured by reason of animperfect tag being introduced into the machinethat is, a tag whoseprong may have been bent down or broken Off. To avoid this difliculty,it has been necessary to carefully assort these tags by hand beforetheir introduction in the machine, and this invention seeks toautomatically accomplish this labor and expedite the same.

To this end the invention also consists in a construction of parts whichwill permit a perfect tag to pass through the machine, while animperfect one will be discharged through longitudinal slots extendingparallel with the cylinder within the casing.

A further object is to provide a space between the cylinder and easingsubstantially equal to the length of the prong upon the tag, and thusprevent the tags turning over; also, to form the discharge-slots of lessdiameter than such a prong, so that the same cannot pass directlythrough the slots.

To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain the sameconsists in the novel construction, combination, and adaptation ofparts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and then specificallydefined in the appended claims.

My invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which,with the letters of reference marked thereon, form part of thisapplication, and in which drawings similar letters of reference indicatelike parts throughout the several views, in which- Figure 1 represents aperspective of the machine; Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section Fig.3, a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing variouspositions occupied by perfect tags; Fig. 4, a similar view showing thedischarge of imperfect tags,and Fig. 5 is a perspective of a tag withwhich the machine is adapted to operate.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, Adesignates a framework of any suitable construction-for instance,composed of the vertical standards A, connected together by tie-rods Aand adapted to support the machine in an inclined position, as shown.The machine is composed of an inner cylinder 13, preferably of metal andwhich is adjustably supported within a casing O by means of screws 0,passing through the slats O composing said casing, and into theapertures B in the cylinder. The cylinder and casing are thus spaced anydesired distance apart and may be adjusted as found necessary; but thepreferred distance is substantially the length of the prong upon thetag-for instance, a prong T upon atagso that the tagscannot turn intosuch position as to pass through the discharge-slots 0 formed betweenthe slats 0 These slats are secured upon the polygonal faces of oppositeheads 0 and one of said heads is rotated by any suitable meansf0rinstance, the shaft 0 and driving-pulley C at the lower end of themachine. The opposite end of the casing is partially closed by a plateD, pro-.

vided with a feed-opening D, through which the tags are introduced intothe machine. The upper end of the cylinder B is also closed; but thecylinder may be made hollow, as illustrated, for the purpose oflightness and convenience. The upper end of the casing is provided withbearing-balls D and coeperating grooves for rendering the rotation ofthe machine easily effected. It will be observed that thedischarge-slots O are disposed tangentially to the periphery of thecylinder 13, which materially assists in retaining the perfect tagswithin the machine and discharging the imperfect tags. To effect thisposition of the slots, the slats are located upon the polygonal faces ofthe heads at an angle to each other, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

In the operation of the machine the tags as they are received from theforming-machine are fed into the casing at the upper end of thecylinder. They then pass into the space between the cylinder and casing,and the perfect tags are thereby prevented from turning into suchposition as to pass through the discharge-slots, although they may,assume numerous positions, as shown in Fig. 3. They will be fed by theinclination of the machine and discharged at the lower end thereof, asshown in Fig. 2. The imperfect tags, or those having one or more prongsbent down or broken off, will in the rotation of the machine enter thedischarge-slots and in the continued movement pass therethrough, asshown in Fig. 4 To effect the most advantageous results with the slotsdisposed as shown, the machine should be rotated from left to right, asindicated by arrows upon the drawings. The machine is thus adapted toquickly and automatically assort or separate perfect tags from imperfectones, and effects this result by a very simple construction of parts notliable to injury or disarrangement and economical of manufacture.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the details of constructionand configuration, also the character of tags operated upon by themachine, without departing from the spirit of the invention as definedby the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention and set forth its merits, what Iclaim is 1. In an assorting-machine, the combination with a rotatablecylinder, of a surrounding casing spaced therefrom and turning therewithand provided with openings to permit the discharge of imperfect tags,substantially as specified.

2. In an asserting-machine, the combination with a rotatable cylinder,of a surrounding casing spaced therefrom and turning therewith andprovided with longitudinallyextending slots, substantially as specified.

3. In an assorting-machine, the combination with a rotatable inclinedcylinder, of a surrounding casing adjustably spaced from said cylinderand having a series of independent polygonally-disposed faces spacedapart to provide longitudinal slots through said casing, substantiallyas specified.

4. In an asserting-machine, the combination with an inclined cylinderclosed at its upper end, of a surrounding casing composed of oppositeheads having polygonal faces and slats secured thereto and spaced apartto pro= vide longitudinal spaces, and screws passing through said slatsand into said cylinder, substantially as specified.

5. In an assorting-machine, the combination with a cylinder, of asurrounding casing spaced therefrom at a distance substantially equal tothe length of a prong upon a tag, said casing being provided with slotsof less diameter than the length of said prong, substantially asspecified.

In testimony whereof I affixmy signature in presence of twowitnesses.

JENETTA v. BOHANNAN.

WVitnesses:

J. M. PFEIFFER, FRANKLIN H. HOUGH.

